Some may remember about a month ago I was looking for some Italeri HMMWVs to build into OC HMMWs from the National Training Center, FT Irwin, CA. These are the HMMWVs that are used by the permanant party trainers here, Observer Controllers.

Here is a pic of the actual vehicle.


I am building 5 on commission. I have completed 2 and the 3rd is about 90%, 2 more to go.

In progress shot:


Completed model:



The box on back is a sleeping box that opens up like a lean-to with the front open. We put our sleeping bags in them and that is home for 14 days a month while training units to go to Iraq.

Hope you like them.

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Make the bad man go away! NTC flashbacks, hot day and cold night!!!!!!!!! Got to love it. WOW, 10 years later and nothings changed!

I take it the decal is custom made, HOW?

I like them. Where's the "GOD GUN?"





PS: Is that the right shade of sand?

I love 'em Gino - wanna see more!

Gunnie

Decals were made in Power Point, paint, and Photo shop. Printed on clear, ink jet decal paper on my home printer.

As to the paint, as long as the lighting conditions, phases of the moon, alignment of Mars and Saturn, and my calibrated eyeball are all correct...YES!!!

Don't F*&^%$#^ get me started on that again!!!

Pete, you are a ball buster, keep up the humor.

Here is another shot showing the SICGARS radios, speaker boxes on the B pillar, home-made PLGR, OC radio next to it, and comfy OC seat .

Cool. Any other pics of the other completed one and the 90%? Are the SINCGARs from Pro Art or somewhere else?

I noticed that you are missing the "TP 20" seen on the sides just above both wheel wells as well as the registration/data stickers (whatever you want to call them) that are on the strengthening plate (name?) to the rear of the driver's position. Do you plan to add either of those? I know there is a TP 22 and TP 20 (or 23?) decal on Tamiya's M1046 TOW and TP 22 and 26 on the M1025 version.

(sort of) What does TP 20 mean?

Other than above, you are doing great. Are you doing a dio out of them?

Jeff

Please dont take this as being sarcastic Jeff, it means Tire Pressure (20 PSI).

Gino,
Can you take a better picture of the "Plugger" (PLGR). If you dont mind, could I try to copy it for my stuff. would also like a shot of the OC's radio.

None taken. That would definitely be the reason they are over the wheel wells (one of my many nicknames is CAPT Obvious). Thanks for the info. I just see them on a lot of Humvees. I guess some would be painted over in theater, but given this is a stateside unit, I would say (cautiously) that marking procedures would be a little stricter.

Jeff

Pete,
I'll send you some pics of the PLGR. The OC radio is just a recangular block of plastic with a knob in the left side and a screen in the middle, monted on a strip of plastic in a "U" shape holding it, nothing fancy. The radio system is called the OC/RCS. It is a commercial system simmilar to what police use, made by the French, great sytem.


Jeff,
As to the tire pressure markings, some have them, most don't. I don't plan on adding them. I will be adding the data plates on the door frame supports.

No other pics, they are all identicle anyways.

Nice work Gino. I crushed one of those OC vehicles witha Bradley one night. The driver, idiot that he was, was doing the NODS to the eye then remove and drive trick, when he cut right in front of my track. We couldn't stop in time and crunch. Pinned him against the steering wheel for the better part of an hour. Didn't want to try move the vehicel until medical help got on scene. Luckily for him, he just had some pretty good bruises and was FMC in a few days. Once again. Nice work. "Q"

Cool job Gino. I like the antennas. What is that wrapped around each one? Some sort of flags or pennants?

Bob

Gino

Love the work you did. Reminds me of a 6 week session I spent at NTC as an argumentation for the Tarantula team for a Heavy-Light Rotation with a Light Infatnry Battalion from the 7 Infantry Division (L) supporting the 5 Infantry Division. Spent my first week in the field shadowing an OC, but the last 5 weeks I spent in the Stars War Building, working along side a OC CPT for the Tarantula's Cdr.

I won't go into my time spent as a BLUFOR

Thanks for the further comments from all.

Jeff,
After relooking at the models, I decided to go ahead and add teh Tire Pressure decals. They do add to it.

Manchu34,
I know what you mean about being both a field OC and a TAF (Star Wars Bldg) OC. I spent the last 20 mos in the field and I now work at the TAF as Wolf 70, Divarty S3 and Wolf 07's assistant. The TAF sucks, I would rather be out in the desert with the troops.




Bob,
The flags are yellow, for the team color, and red is flown during live-fire operations. They are represented on the model with painted masking tape wrapped around the antennas.